Superstar Rajinikanth is reportedly ready with the script for "Padayappa 2," the highly anticipated sequel to his 1999 blockbuster film. This exciting news was confirmed by his daughter, filmmaker Soundarya Rajinikanth, in a recent conversation with Indiaglitz.
The original "Padayappa," directed by KS Ravikumar, was a massive hit, with a story penned by Rajinikanth himself. The film revolves around a virtuous engineer who returns to his village and faces conflicts involving family betrayal, land disputes, and his ambitious step-sister. Ultimately, the protagonist uses his intelligence and moral strength to overcome his enemies and restore his family's honor. The movie explores themes of family pride, wealth, revenge, and the triumph of good over evil. The film also featured Ramya Krishnan, Soundarya, Lakshmi, Sithara, and Radha Ravi in pivotal roles.
According to Soundarya, the script for "Padayappa 2" is "absolutely brilliant". However, she also stated that a director has not yet been chosen, and the timeline for the film's materialization remains uncertain.
Rajinikanth had earlier revealed plans for a sequel during the re-release of "Padayappa". The superstar also mentioned that the sequel would focus on Ramya Krishnan's iconic character, Neelambari. In December 2025, Rajinikanth stated that the tentative title for the sequel is "Neelambari: Padayappa 2". He added, "We are discussing the story, and if it comes out well, much like Padayappa, there will be a Neelambari. It will be exciting for the audience, and I'm working on it".
Rajinikanth also revealed that he had produced the original film under his friends' names and has not sold the movie to any OTT platform, preferring it to have theatrical release.
In other news, Rajinikanth is currently working on "Jailer 2," directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, which is expected to be released by mid-2026. The film is a sequel to the 2023 hit "Jailer".
In December 2025, Rajinikanth reminisced about the casting process for "Padayappa," revealing that he initially wanted Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to play Neelambari. He was even willing to wait 2-3 years for her to accept the role, but the role eventually went to Ramya Krishnan.
